WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart held up a sign during player introductions at Unrivaled in Miami on Sunday, Jan. 25, that said ‘ABOLISH ICE.’
Stewart, who helped start the 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league, is among the a few athletes who have spoken out after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Stewart’s wife, Marta, is an immigrant who has a green card.
‘I was just disgusted from everything that you see on Instagram and in the news,’ Stewart said.
‘We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love, so I wanted to have a simple message of ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence.’
Unrivaled had a moment of silence before games Saturday, ‘to take a moment to reflect on the recent tragic events in Minnesota. Our thoughts and support are with everyone affected, and we send our deepest sympathies to those who have lost a loved one.’
Pretti’s killing has sparked outrage and protests in Minnesota, which has been on edge since 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month.
Two-time NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, posted on X: Alex Pretti was murdered.
Brianna Turner, who played for Indiana Fever last season, posted on X. ‘The minority that are still defending ICE will forever be on the wrong side of history.’
Angel Reese, who will begin her third season with the Chicago Sky next season, said she is praying for the USA on X.
‘Sending all my love and prayers to Minnesota. … I’m heartbroken to see ICE has flipped the city upside down and resorted to violence. There is no place for this,’ Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman, wrote in her Instagram story.
The WNBA has a history of social justice and activism. After George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in 2020 and protests began, the league and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), put ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Say Her Name’ on T-Shirts they wore for warm-ups in the WNBA bubble.
The players also campaigned against then-Atlanta Dream owner, Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler, who criticized the league’s support for Black Lives Matter. After Loeffler’s comments, her team wore T-shirts that read ‘VOTE WARNOCK,’ and the players endorsed her opponent Raphael Warnock, an African-American pastor. He was ultimately elected.
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